Moistening device



March 26, 1963 D. M. WATERS 3,082,736

MOISTENING DEVICE Filed Oct. 24. 1960 /7Z "Ml H IEOOOOOO INVENTOR.fiorae A! Wazews.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,082,736 MOISTENING DEVICE Dorse M.Waters, Box 72, Belmont, N.Y. Filed Oct. 24, 1960, Ser. No. 64,501 1Claim. (Cl. 118-468) This invention relates to a moistening device.

The invention is more particularly concerned with a moistening device ofthe general character which embodies a box-like base structure having awater receptacle therein together with a wick supporting means disposedon and above said receptacle, and a wick whose opposite ends depend intothe water receptacle with the mid portion thereof, exposed formoistening operation.

A primary obect of the present invention is to provide a fingermoistener of the general character above referred to wherein the wicksupporting means is so formed that the wick presents vertically spacedmoistening areas for simultaneous engagement of the thumb with one areaand a finger or fingers with the opposing area.

A further object of the invention is to provide a finger moistener ofthe above noted general character wherein one of said moistening areasis of substantially greater area than the other and which is welladapted for moistening labels and the like.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent inthe course of the following detailed description, taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the improved moistener.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the moistener with the wick thrown backand broken away.

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view as observed in theplane of line 3-3 of FIGURE 1, and

FIGURE 4 is a side elevational view of the moistener on a somewhatreduced scale and wherein a finger moistening operation is depicted indot-and-dash lines.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the improved finger moistenerwill be seen to comprise a box-like base member '10 and which basemember provides a water receptacle defined by a horizontal base wall 11,opposed upwardly. converging side walls 12, opposed upwardly convergingend walls 13 and a horizontal top wall 14 which is interrupted by arectangular vertical wall 15 and wherein the interior of the verticalwall is in open communication with the water receptacle above referredto.

As is indicated in FIGURE 3, the vertical wall 15 is provided with ahorizontal shoulder 16 which provides a rectangular seat for a cover andwick supporting member 17 which is readily removable from the basemember The wick supporting member 17 comprises a rectangular baseportion 18 which is removably engaged with the seat or shoulder \16.

The wick supporting member further comprises opposed vertical side walls19 between which is supported a wick traversing wall normal thereto andwhich comprises an outwardly curved rear portion 20, an upwardly curvedtop portion 21 whose front end merges into a relatively small radiusoutwardly curved forward end portion 22,

3,082,736 Patented Mar. 26, 1963 and a fiat portion 23 extends from thecurved portion 22 and terminates in slightly vertical spaced relation tothe base portion 18, thereby providing a wick traversing slot 24.

A second wick traversing slot 25 is provided intermediate the top wallportions 20 and 21.

As is indicated in FIGURES 2 and 3 a relatively shallow wick guideflange 26 is disposed at each of the opposite sides of the wicktraversing wall above referred to and the top portion 21 is providedwith a multiplicity of apertures 27 and a transverse reinforcing stop21a.

As is more clearly shown in FIGURE 3, a wick W has one end portion Wthereof removably threaded through the slot 24 and the opposite endportion W2 threaded through the slot 25 whereby the mid portion of thewick lies in contact with the wall portions 21, 22 and 23 of the wicksupporting member 17 while the end portions depend into the base member10 and a body of water therein, the water level being indicated by thehorizontal dotted line H in FIGURE 3.

The predominating feature of the invention is the projection of aportion P of the wick supporting member 17 over and above the horizontaltop wall 14 thereby providing a space for receiving the thumb T of ausers hand while the index linger I is engageable with the upper portionof the wick whereby the thumb and finger are moistened for maximumefiiciency in the handling of papers.

While the device is particularly adapted for finger moistening asdisclosed, the relatively large area of the wick which overlies the topportion 21 may well be used for moistening labels and the like.

Having set forth the invention in accordance with a single specificstructural embodiment thereof, what is claimed and desired to be securedby United States Letters Patent is:

A finger moistening device comprising a hollow base member providing awater reservoir, the top wall of said base member being interrupted by avertical wall providing open communication with said reservoir, a hollowwick supporting member supported on said vertical wall, said wicksupporting member having an upwardly curved top portion terminating in asmall radius horizontally disposed end portion in overhanging relationto said base member, the upwardly curved top portion of said wicksupporting member having a slot therein disposed vertically above theinterior of said vertical wall, a second slot disposed between one sideof said vertical wall and said overhanging portion of said wicksupporting member, and a wick having the mid portion thereof disposedexternally of said wick supporting member with the end portions thereofextending through said slots and into said reservoir.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,056,134 Vogelpohl Mar. 18, 19-13 1,438,638 Darche Dec. 12, 1922 21 2 Ade on Ju a 196

